WEB DESK
Congress party today said that its leader Rahul Gandhi was screened for coronavirus infection at Delhi airport on his return from Italy on February 29.
The confirmation came after three caustic digs this week, including two by the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri, targeting Mr Gandhi and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, and suggesting they should be wary of spreading the disease.
The BJP often targets Mr Gandhi over his foreign trips, especially to Italy, which is home to his mother’s family and, unfortunately, has emerged as the European epicentre of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak, with over 2,500 cases and nearly 80 dead.
Rahul Gandhi, who had travelled to the Italian city of Milan for two weeks, had been offered courtesies due a Lok Sabha MP and a Z-Plus protectee on his return, but declined them and stood in line with other passengers for nearly half-an-hour, the party said.
He also spoke to medical staff who briefed him on COVID-19 symptoms.
Rahul Gandhi has frequently questioned the government over its handling of the coronavirus situation.
The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, where the first three cases in the country were reported, hit out at Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan yesterday afternoon, comparing his statement to “the captain of the Titanic telling passengers not to panic”.